--------------------
Moderators - Overview
--------------------

ProZ.com is moderated by a group of volunteers around the world. There are three types of moderator: KudoZ, forum and jobs. Moderators of each type help to improve ProZ.com by enforcing adherence to site rules, steering site development, and investigating cases of abuse.

The list of current moderators is accessible by clicking Community > Moderators from the main menu.


--------------------
What moderators do
--------------------

1. Site moderation

Moderators help to ensure a positive working environment at ProZ.com by encouraging collaboration and participation, especially among new members, answering questions, and otherwise helping members to get the most out of ProZ.com. Moderators also field complaints and intervene when necessary to ensure that site rules are followed.

To support them in the above, moderators are given access to functions throughout the site that are not available to non-moderators. For example, moderators are given a means to remove forum and KudoZ postings, or jobs, that violate site rules. Moderators may also reclassify misplaced KudoZ questions and postings. Vetting jobs and forum postings from visitors is another role of moderators.

2. Steering

Moderators contribute to the leadership of ProZ.com by making proposals and providing feedback on proposals in a dedicated moderator forum. This forum acts as a sounding board for new site development and policies, with major decisions discussed there before rollout to the broader community.

Also, offline meetings have periodically been held among moderators to discuss site issues in a concentrated manner.

3. Investigation of abuse

When there is reason to believe that someone has attempted to use the site in a way that was not intended, moderators may investigate and take steps to prevent further abuse.

Moderators serve additional and miscellaneous roles as needs arise. However, it should be understood that moderators do not serve to any degree as linguistic authorities.


----------------------
A volunteer position
----------------------

Moderators are volunteers; they are not compensated in any way. Those who are platinum members have purchased platinum membership (but platinum membership is not required of moderators.) Moderators who attend moderator meetings pay their own way.

There is no set frequency at which moderators are expected to contribute. It is understood that each moderator has other priorities (work, family, hobbies, etc.), which will take precedence over moderator tasks. Moderators are therefore free to contribute as much or as little as they like, whenever they can.


--------------------
Period of Service
--------------------

There is no fixed term for moderatorship. Moderators may resign at any time, and site staff may likewise remove or change moderators at their sole discretion if there is reason to do so.


--------------------
Code of Conduct
--------------------

The moderators and staff members of ProZ.com aim to operate according to high standards of fairness, transparency and honesty.

Moderators:

know ProZ.com,
- Are familiar with ProZ.com and use it in an exemplary fashion.
- Know the ProZ.com Mission Statement and are committed to fulfilling it.
- Are knowledgeable concerning the moderator role and the policies, guidelines and manuals governing it.

enforce its rules and policies,
- Are knowledgeable concerning site rules (forum, KudoZ, blue board and job posting) and are committed to enforcing them.
- Recognize and endorse the concept that ProZ.com's scope is limited to translation and translation work, as outlined in the Definition of Scope.
- Intervene and take administrative action with members only when necessary, and always on the basis of specific rule or policy violations.

are committed,
- Put themselves in the service of ProZ.com members in particular, and translators in general.
- Contribute what they can, when they can.
- Finish what they start.
- Respond to member inquiries in a professional and timely manner.
- Maintain perspective, making people and relationships their first priority.
- Move on without hesitation from the moderator role when they deem that the time is right for them to do so.

exhibit professionalism.
- Hold members, moderators, staff members, the site and themselves to a high standard.
- Contribute to and protect the professional and welcoming environment of ProZ.com.
- Work in accordance with the ProZ.com Professional Guidelines, onsite and off.
- Stay up-to-date on ProZ.com and the industry, and continuously improve themselves, the site and the industry. What they learn, they share freely.
- Maintain integrity and impartiality.
- Remove themselves from situations involving conflict of interest.
- Refuse to accept advantages over non-moderators in terms of deriving career benefits from the site.
- Respect and protect information that is confidential to site members, or confidential to the moderator list.